The 2021-22 season continues to deliver unexpected results as eight teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school basketball rankings suffered losses.
Despite the setbacks, the top portion of the rankings remained relatively unchanged as No. 9 Sierra Canyon is the only team to break into the top 10 this week, climbing four spots after an impressive 67-64 victory over previously unbeaten No. 12 Glenbard West on Saturday.
Junior
Dylan Metoyer hit the game-winner off an assist from UCLA signee
Amari Bailey, who finished with a game-high 21 points in the win. Junior
Bronny James had a strong effort in the victory as well, scoring 18 points and nailing six 3-pointers.
Despite Glenbard West falling from the ranks of unbeaten teams, four teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 remain perfect, including No. 4 Bishop Gorman and No. 6 Centerville, and rankings newcomers No. 24 Garfield and No. 25 Weddington.
The playoffs begin for a handful of teams in the rankings this week, including teams in Florida and California, while others finish up the final weeks of regular season play.
Kansas signee Ernest Udeh and Dr. Phillips jump three spots to No. 14 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 rankings.
Photo by Pete Wright
Record: 26-1 | Last week: 1
Alabama signee
Rylan Griffen (25) and Kentucky signee
Cason Wallace (16) led the way in the Eagles' 94-46 victory over Berkner (Richardson). A rematch against Lake Highlands (Dallas) awaits Friday after the first meeting required a late rally to escape with an 85-78 win.
Record: 25-1 | Last week: 2
Notched a 91-50 win over Waxahachie behind five-star junior
Ronald Holland (19) and three-star junior
Ashton Hardaway (14). The Panthers have three games remaining in regular season play, beginning with a matchup against Cedar Hill on Tuesday.
Record: 16-2 | Last week: 3
Wrapped up regular season play with a 74-58 win over John Paul II Academy (Boca Raton) paced by UCF pledge
Taylor Hendricks (26) and Michigan signee
Gregg Glenn (15). The defending state champions open District play with Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs) on Tuesday. The Eagles' GEICO Nationals hopes hinge on winning the FHSAA Class 4A state crown.
Record: 24-0 | Last week: 4
Unsigned senior
Darrion Williams and sophomore guard
John Mobley Jr. each had 16 in a 66-57 win over Durango (Las Vegas). The Gaels have two regular season games this week before their quest for a 10th consecutive state title begins, which would set the all-time record nationally for most consecutive state championships.
Record: 26-1 | Last week: 5
Finished regular season play with 23 consecutive victories following their lone loss to No. 2 Duncanville on Nov. 26. The Huskies are paired with Crean Lutheran, Damien and Bishop Montgomery in CIF Southern Section Open Division pool play with a potential championship game against No. 9 Sierra Canyon looming.
Record: 19-0 | Last week: 6
Three games remain in regular season play as contests against Wayne (Huber Heights) on Friday and Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) on Sunday are the last games before the Elks begin their quest for a second consecutive OHSAA Division I state title.
Record: 14-2 | Last week: 7
Knocked off a pair of solid in-state opponents at the Metro Classic, defeating Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone) 57-55 before beating St. Peter's Prep 70-46. Top-ranked junior
D.J. Wagner led the Panthers in scoring both games, averaging 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals.
Record: 19-3 | Last week: 9
Arkansas signee
Nick Smith hit the game-winning floater as time expired in overtime as they escaped with a 76-74 victory over Central (Little Rock). The five-star guard finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals.
Record: 21-3 | Last week: 13
The Trailblazers head into CIF Southern Section Open Division pool play on the heels of a thrilling buzzer-beating win over No. 12 Glenbard West. Sierra Canyon is paired with Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and Harvard-Westlake (Studio City).
Record: 17-2 | Last week: 8
The Lions struggled offensively in a 61-54 loss to National Top 20 No. 8 Oak Hill Academy, their second loss of the season. Roselle Catholic shot 32.3 percent from the field, 25 percent from 3-point range and 52.9 percent from the free throw line.
Record: 18-3 | Last week: 15
Pulled off a thrilling 81-75 triple-overtime win Sunday over St. John's (Washington, D.C.), led by 30 points from Michigan signee
Knasir "Dug" McDaniel who hit a number of clutch shots down the stretch in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Panthers face another WCAC test against Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) on Thursday.
Record: 26-1 | Last week: 10
Despite losing to No. 9 Sierra Canyon, the Hilltoppers drop just two spots after showing the ability to compete with the nation's best. Three games remain in regular season play before their quest for the program's first state championship.
Record: 20-2 | Last week: 16
The Falcons erased a 19-point, second-half deficit to beat McEachern (Powder Springs) 76-75. Unsigned seniors
Kami Young (21) and
Jordan Brown (17) led the way in the epic comeback.
Record: 21-4 | Last week: 17
Concluded regular season play with a 56-53 win over Windermere behind 13 points and 10 rebounds from Kansas signee
Ernest Udeh Jr., while Florida signee
Denzel Aberdeen chipped in a team-high 14 points. The Panthers begin their quest for consecutive FHSAA Class 7A state titles Wednesday against the winner of West Orange (Winter Garden) and Celebration.
Record: 17-4 | Last week: 20
Wrap up regular season play Tuesday with a showdown against Philadelphia Catholic League leading West Catholic (Philadelphia) on Tuesday. The Panthers finished the year 14-0 last season but were unable to compete in the PIAA state tournament.
Record: 24-3 | Last week: 21
Remain unbeaten in Baltimore Catholic League play after securing a 66-60 road win over Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), led by a game-high 22 points from South Carolina commit
Bryce Lindsay and sophomore
Daquan Davis.
Record: 26-3 | Last week: 12
Fell to an in-state opponent for the first time this season after a shocking upset loss against Trinity Academy (Raleigh) 44-42. The Bengals were without their leading scorer
Jaydon Young due to COVID protocols.
Record: 17-2
| Last week: 11
Their 61-56 loss to St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows) marks the second straight week with a defeat. The Cardinals maintain their ranking due to earlier wins over No. 19 Archbishop Stepinac and No. 19 Long Island Lutheran.
Record: 16-3 | Last week: 22
Improved to 10-2 in league play with a 60-49 win over Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx). Junior
Isaiah Alexander finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while senior
Samuel Gibbs had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the win.
Record: 13-5 | Last week: 19
All of the Crusaders losses have come against ranked foes, including a 73-66 loss to National Top 20 No. 11 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) at the Metro Classic over the weekend. Providence commit
Jayden Pierre filled the stat sheet with 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in the loss.
Record: 26-3 | Last week: 23
Sophomore
Clarence Payia (18) and junior
Trealyn Porchia (15) led the way in the Timberwolves' 47-36 victory over Nederland. The defending Class 5A state champions have three regular-season games remaining.
Record: 22-1 | Last week: 25
Extended their win streak to 16 games after scoring 100 points for a second straight outing in a 100-72 win against John Hardin (Elizabethtown). The Cardinals have six regular-season games left before the hunt for their first state title begins.
Record: 24-1
| Last week: NR
Replaced Mansfield Timberview (Arlington) as the fourth ranked team from the Lone Star State. The Mustangs have won 14 straight games since their 47-43 loss to Atascocita (Humble) on Dec. 7.
Record: 16-0 | Last week: NR
Enter the rankings for the first time this season after concluding an unbeaten regular season with an 85-23 blowout of Nathan Hale (Seattle). The Bulldogs are the favorites to capture the WIAA Class 3A state championship this season against a tough field that includes Rainier Beach (Seattle) and Auburn.
Record: 21-0 | Last week: NR
The second team to enter the rankings from the Tar Heel State this season, the Warriors look to complete their unbeaten season this week against Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw). A balanced offense has four players averaging double figures led by seniors
Chase Lowe (17.5),
Kyle Frazier (14.6) and
A.J. Cook (12.3).
Prior to the 2021-22 season, MaxPreps adopted a split approach to
the rankings. The MaxPreps Top 25 is a measure of public and private
schools belonging to recognized governing bodies that compete for state
championships. The National Top 20 encompasses a broad spectrum of
sub-collegiate programs that in most cases are not full members of
state-level governing bodies and do not compete for state championships.
